NBA: Westbrook pours in 33 points as Thunder win again

In the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to keep their drive for the playoffs alive, even though their team leader, reigning league MVP Kevin Durant is likely gone for the season, along with fellow All-Star Serge Ibaka.

That means the burden of carrying the team's expectations remains on Russell Westbrook's shoulders, and he was looking to deliver, as OKC visited the Phoenix Suns.

Oklahoma City 109 - Phoenix 97

Oklahoma City 109 - Phoenix 97

But the hosts are trying to keep their own fading postseason hopes alive, as Markieff Morris puts Phoenix in front by three in the first quarter.

And the gap gets wider before Westbrook drives to the rack for the tough lay-up through traffic, cutting the margin to seven.

But the Suns continue to pour it on as Morris hits the turnaround J, and he would finish with 24 points in the contest.

That leaves Westbrook working to dig OKC out, as he stops and pops near the top of the key, and the deficit's now five.

Later in the third quarter, Brandon Knight loses the rock on the sideline, free cookies for Kyle Singler, and a bucket for Dion Waiters as he ties the score at 71-all.

Singler with another of his five assists in the fourth Q, as DJ Augustin drills the trey en route to 19 points off the pine. Woe on the home bench.

Westbrook then compounds the misery in P-H-X as he strolls in for another hoop. 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists for him.

33 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists for Westbrook

Then it's Augustin with the exclamation point as the off-balance hook bounces in, and the Thunder come from behind to beat the Suns by 12.

In Sunday's other games. JJ Reddick's 27 points led the Clippers past Boston. James Harden scored 24 points as Houston topped Washington. CJ Miles poured in 27 to help Indiana defeat Dallas and Brook Lopez tallied 30 points and 11 rebounds in Brooklyn's victory over the Lakers.

Elsewhere, LeBron James recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds as Cleveland held off Philly despite a scoreless last four minutes. Anthony Davis put up 28 points as New Orleans beat Minnesota to stay two-and-a-half games behind OKC for the final playoff spot from the Western Conference and Dwyane Wade's 40 points led Miami over Detroit.